Georgian PM chairs Commission on launching Georgian cultural centre on Jordan River
The project follows the gifting of a plot of land near the River by Jordanian authorities to Georgia in 2022, for the purpose of launching the venue near the baptism site of Jesus Christ. Photo: Government Administration
Tweet 
Share
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, members of his Government and representatives of the country’s Orthodox Church Patriarchate were on Wednesday introduced to the initial architectural plan and presentation of the project for launching a Georgian cultural centre on the Jordan River.
Chaired by Garibashvili, the second session of the Government Commission for establishing the centre near the River reviewed measures for the construction of the venue, the Government Administration said.
The project follows the gifting of a plot of land near the River by Jordanian authorities to Georgia in 2022, for the purpose of launching the venue near the baptism site of Jesus Christ.
Both secular and clerical authorities were involved in the transfer of the 4,000-square metre plot, located near the River that flows through the Sea of Galilee and towards the Dead Sea.
Garibashvili called the move “very generous” and a “great gift and joy” for his country at the reveal of the transfer.
The first session of the Government commission for establishing a Georgian cultural centre near the Jordan River was held on Tuesday and chaired by Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili.
Georgians are “returning to the Holy Land” after 300 years, Zaza Kandelaki, the Georgian Ambassador to Jordan, said on Saturday on the occasion of a handover of a plot of land near the Jordan River for opening a Georgian culture centre.
The Georgian government will set up a commission for developing the concept for a Georgian cultural centre near the site of the baptism of Jesus Christ in Jordan, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said on Monday.
A Georgian cultural centre will be launched on a plot of land gifted by Jordan’s royal family to the country, with the location near the baptism site of Jesus Christ marking a “return to the holy land”, prime minister Irakli Garibashvili said on Wednesday.
The Government commission for establishing a Georgian culture centre near the Jordan River approved the plan for the venue on Friday, in the latest development for the initiative that originated in last year’s handover of the land plot for the purpose by the royal family of Jordan to Georgia.
Ilia II, the Catholicos Patriarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church and religious leaders from the Church on Wednesday met foreign diplomats to discuss the anticipated granting of the European Union membership candidate status to the country.
Relations between Georgia and Jordan were discussed on Wednesday in a meeting between the Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and Archil Dzuliashvili, the country’s newly appointed Ambassador to Jordan, Iraq and Libya, the Government Administration said.